The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) Hon. Dr. Maria Mutagamba has hailed the field staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority for commitment and passion for wildlife conservation.

Dr. Mutagamba flanked by the Permanent Secretary for the ministry, UWA Board of Trustees members and UWA top management led by Executive Director Dr. Andrew Seguya were last week on a four day fact finding tour of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks managed under one conservation area.

The minister who was led by professional guides and park managers on a tracking exercise for the much sought after mountain gorillas of Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable Parks observed that the staff here exhibit enormous knowledge for the tourism product, conservation matters and unrivaled passion for wildlife and environment in general.

He commended the ranger staff who ensure they monitor the movement of gorillas throughout the day until they nest and then have to follow them to the forest before they rise from their sleep making it easier for the tourists to locate them for tracking.

The minister also observed that the UWA staff appeared extremely smart, motivated and experienced providing excellent customer care. She hailed management and the Board of Trustees for their strategies to keep the staff morale high. Dr. Mutagamba commissioned the newly constructed staff quarters for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at Ntebeko, more staff quarters at Rushaga in the southern sector of BINP.

She also tracked the Rushegura family gorillas in Buhoma, toured the community enterprise centre in Mgahinga and interacted with the Kisoro district leadership led by chairman LC 5 Mr. Milton Bazanye, MP Bufumbira North Mr. John Kamara and the deputy RDC Kisoro Mr. Geoffrey Mucunguzi. The Board members led by Mr. Benjamin Otto also visited Bwindi Community Hospital, the Gorilla Research clinic under Conservation through Public Health and the Nursing school. The Board held a meeting during which they approved General management Plans for Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks as well as Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve and oil monitoring guidelines in protected areas.